Things to Do in Benidorm: Local Picks Beyond the Beach

Benidorm has more going on than most people give it credit for. The beaches are the obvious draw – two long stretches of sand, both Blue Flag – but spend a full week just sunbathing and you’d miss the old town tapas bars, a boat trip to an island with no peacocks (despite the name), a mountain village that looks like it belongs in a fantasy film, and theme parks that range from genuinely good to charmingly deserted. I live nearby on the Costa Blanca, and these are the things I’d actually recommend doing.

The trick with Benidorm is knowing which version of the town you’re after. The Levante strip is loud, British, and unapologetic about it. The old town headland between the two beaches is where the Spanish families eat. And ten minutes in either direction – Altea, Villajoyosa, Guadalest – it’s a completely different part of Spain.

The Beaches – and Which One to Pick

Benidorm has two main beaches separated by the rocky headland where the old town sits. They’re close together but feel quite different.

Most water sports operators set up on Levante beach. Jet ski hire runs from around 100€ (roughly £85) for a 30-60 minute session (per jet ski, max two riders). Parasailing starts from about 80€ for a 10-12 minute flight, and banana boat rides from around 35€ per person. Prices are approximate for the 2026 season.

Mal Pas is the one most visitors walk right past. It’s directly below the old town, tiny compared to the main beaches, and the water is clearer because of the rocky seabed. If you snorkel, this is where to do it.

Old Town – Tapas, Viewpoints, and the Best Part of Benidorm

The old town (casco antiguo) sits on the rocky headland between the two beaches. It’s the part of Benidorm that existed before the skyscrapers, and it still feels like a proper Spanish town. Narrow streets, small plazas, whitewashed buildings with iron balconies.

The Balcón del Mediterráneo is the viewpoint at the tip of the headland – a small curved balcony with views in both directions along the coast and out to Benidorm Island. It’s especially good at sunset. Get there early in summer; it’s not exactly a secret.

The real reason to spend time in the old town is the food. The streets between Plaza del Castillo and Plaza de la Constitución are lined with tapas bars, most of them Spanish-run. This is where locals eat. Prices are noticeably lower than the Levante strip restaurants, and the quality is higher.

Benidorm Island – The Boat Trip

The island sitting about a kilometre offshore is hard to miss. Boats run by Excursiones Benidorm make the 20-minute crossing on catamarans Monday to Saturday, roughly February to mid-November, weather depending. Adult return tickets cost 23€, children 14€. The price includes an underwater marine viewing section (glass-bottom boat or Aquascope) on the way out.

On the island itself there’s a zigzag hiking path to the 73-metre summit – Mirador de l’Illa – with panoramic views back to Benidorm and the Sierra Helada cliffs. There’s also roped-off snorkelling areas, a small café-restaurant (Lilla), and picnic tables with shade. Scuba diving is popular here too.

About the peacocks: the island is historically called “Peacock Island,” but there are no peacocks. Haven’t been for years. The local legend is better anyway – a giant supposedly cut a piece from Sierra Helada to shade his dying beloved, and the chunk of rock became the island.

Theme Parks – Which Are Worth It

Benidorm has three parks in close proximity. Here’s the honest breakdown:

Under-4s go free at all three parks (Terra Mítica requires ID). Terra Mítica opens May 15, with the full park running from late June. Aqualandia opens May 23 and runs until late September. Mundomar also offers a 35% discount for large families with documentation.

Skip Terra Mítica if your kids are under eight. The thrill coasters are the main event, and younger children are limited to sections of the Egypt and Rome areas. Mundomar is a much better half-day for that age group – the dolphin show alone is 30 minutes and keeps them riveted. Aqualandia works for all ages, though the headline slides are for older kids and adults.

Terra Mítica on a weekday is half-empty. No queues, which is great. The atmosphere of a post-apocalyptic theme park, which some people find charming.

Day Trips – Four Places Within 45 Minutes

One of the best things about Benidorm’s location is how quickly you can reach places that feel nothing like it.

Guadalest – The Mountain Village

About 25 km inland, roughly 45 minutes by car. Guadalest is a medieval hilltop village with castle ruins (Peñón de la Alcalá) built directly into the rock face, overlooking a turquoise reservoir. It’s the kind of place that makes you forget you were on a package beach holiday an hour ago.

Castle entry is 4€ for adults, 2€ for children. Parking costs 2€ for the day. There are four small museums, narrow streets with artisan shops, and viewpoints over the valley. If you don’t have a car, bus #16 runs from Plaza Triangular at 10:10am – 7.50€ return.

Altea – The Art Town

Just 11 km up the coast – about 13 minutes by car or 15 minutes on Tram Line 9 (runs every 30 minutes, about 1.45€). Altea is Benidorm’s quieter, more bohemian neighbour. The whitewashed old town climbs a hill topped with a church known for its blue-tiled dome. Art galleries, small terraces on Plaza de la Iglesia, and a noticeably calmer pace.

For couples: dinner in Altea’s old town on a warm evening is one of the best things you can do from Benidorm. The tram back runs late enough that you don’t need to drive.

Villajoyosa – Chocolate and Painted Houses

About 10 km south, 20 minutes on Tram Line 1. The seafront row of brightly painted fishermen’s houses is the postcard shot – they were originally painted in bold colours so fishermen could spot their homes from the sea. Beyond the photos, Villajoyosa has a proper old town with cobbled streets and fresh seafood restaurants near the fishing port.

The Valor Chocolate Museum runs free tours Monday to Friday – English tours at 10:00 and 16:00. Valor has been making chocolate here since 1881, and yes, there are free samples.

Alicante

About 45 km south – roughly 40 minutes by car, an hour by direct bus, or 70 minutes on Tram Line L1 (3.90€). Worth it for Santa Bárbara Castle perched on Mount Benacantil, the Explanada de España promenade, and the old Barrio de Santa Cruz neighbourhood. A full day out.

Nightlife – The Strip, the Old Town, and the Palace

Benidorm’s nightlife splits into three distinct scenes, and they attract completely different crowds.

The strip runs parallel to Levante beach – a long stretch of pubs, bars, and clubs that’s busiest from June to September. English Square (junction of Avenida de Mallorca and Calle Gerona) is the hub of British nightlife: karaoke, cabaret, tribute acts. It is exactly what you think it is.

Old town bars are smaller, more atmospheric. A mix of Spanish-owned authentic bars and British-run pubs. The old town is also a popular gay-friendly area with 30+ welcoming bars. For adults looking for something beyond the strip, this is where to go – wine bars, late-night terraces, conversation at a volume where you can actually hear the other person.

Benidorm Palace is the town’s long-running dinner-and-show cabaret venue – Las Vegas-style with dancers, acrobats, and variety acts. It seats 1,600 people. The current show is called ELEMENTS. Dinner from 20:00, show runs 22:00 to midnight. Prices range from 36€ for the show only up to 100€ for platinum with backstage access. I really enjoyed the show and prefer it to Cirque du Soleil which outside the resident shows feels very over priced nowadays.

For Couples – Where to Go for a Quieter Side

The Balcón del Mediterráneo at sunset, obviously. But beyond that: a coastal walk along the cliffs of Sierra Helada natural park north of Levante beach gives you views without crowds. The cala (cove) hikes along this stretch are short but rewarding – rocky inlets with clear water and nobody else around on weekday mornings.

The best couple’s evening from Benidorm is the tram to Altea for dinner in the old town. The blue-domed church, the quiet plazas lit up at night, a bottle of wine on a terrace overlooking the coast – it’s a different world from the strip.

In Benidorm itself, the old town rooftop bars and wine bars are the adult-oriented alternative to the neon-lit nightlife zone. Dinner at 9pm Spanish-style, then drinks on a terraza watching the lights along the bay.

For Families – Quick Guide by Age

Poniente is the better family beach – more space, calmer water, and the newer promenade has good access for pushchairs. Levante works too, but it’s busier and the atmosphere skews more towards nightlife-adjacent tourism.

Frequently Asked Questions